: Re: What is the correct formatting for actions taken before dialogue? What would be the correct way to format the following exchange in narrative prose? Is it: Alice sits on the bench, silent. Eventually,

@Karen856

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Try to give each character their own paragraphs.

Alice sits on the bench, silent.
Eventually, I speak. "What are we going to do?"
After a long pause, she responds. "I don't think we can do anything."

Note, I chose the period after 'responds'. 'Responds' isn't interchangeble with 'says'. For example, all these are valid...
she says, "I don't think we can do anything."
she whispers, "I don't think we can do anything."
she screams, "I don't think we can do anything."

these are awkward...
she speaks, "I don't think we can do anything."
she responds, "I don't think we can do anything."
she talks, "I don't think we can do anything."

It's better to stick to 'says' and 'asks' if you are unsure of the difference.

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